Rider propelled merry-go-round



Jan. 11, 1955 A. H. KRUEGER, JR

Go-RoUND Filed sept. 1s, 1951 RIDER PROPEJLLED MERRY VIA 'I' i IQUGLZST rraRA/Ey for the riders,

United States Patent O 2,699,335 RIDER PROPELLED MERRY-GO-ROUND August H. Krueger, Jr., Natoma, Kans. Application September 13, y1951, Serial No. 246,411 1 Claim. (Cl. 272-33) This invention relates generally to the class of play apparatus and is directed particularly to an improved rider propelled merry-go-round.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved rider propelled merry-go-round wherein riders are supported upon a rotating structure which in turn is mounted upon a xed vertical standard, with a a lxed member upon the standard whereby the riders may by a push and pull movement cause the supporting structure to turn around the standard.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a merry-go-round structure of the character stated, a novel power transmitting mechanism which is actuated by riders of the rider becoming caught and injured between moving parts is eliminated.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a rider propelled merry-goround comprising a xed vertical standard having a fixed crank arm upon its upper end, with radially extending arms supported on the standard to turn in a horizontal plane therearound, the arms being provided at their outer ends with seats and pivoted oscillating levers carried upon the arms and connected by a rigid link with the crank member whereby upon the application of a back and forth rocking movement to the levers, applying alternate pushing and pulling force to the crank, the rider supported arms will be caused to turn around the standard.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described since obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the merry-goround constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing the numeral designates a standard of suitable character as, for example, a steel pipe of suitable diameter and length, the lower end portion of which is iixed in the ground by cement or other means which will maintain it rigidly in vertical position. As an example, and without tending to limit the invention in any manner, a pipe of about ve feet in length and around two and three-eighths inches in diameter may be employed with about two and one-half feet xed in the ground or in cement.

Encircling the pipe or standard 10 at a suitable distance below the upper end thereof, is a fixed collar 12 and above this collar the standard is encased in a vertical metal sleeve 14 which, for a pipe of the height above set forth, may be about eleven inches in length.

Fixed to diametrically opposite sides of the sleeve 14 by welding or in any other suitable manner, are the two radially extending nipples 16 in each of which is fixed by a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of the device and which is so designed that all possibility a set screw 18, an end of,a pipe arm 20. This arm may be approximately tive feet long and is preferably in the form of a one and a quarter inch pipe although any other suitable type of material may be employed.

Upon the outer end of each arm is xed a seat 22 and adjacent to each seat and a short distance inwardly therefrom the arm has fixed thereto, a bolt 24 having a right angled terminal portion 25 which passes through the lower end of a rock lever 26. This angle end 25 of the bolt extends transversely of the arm 20 so lthat the rock lever can be rocked in a vertical plane extending lengthwise of the arm. In other words the lever rocks on a pivot extending transversely of the arm on which it is supported as will be readily apparent.

Extending transversely of the top of each rock lever 6 is a cross arm or handle 27 which may be grasped by the child sitting upon the adjacent seat 22.

Below each rock lever 26 the supporting arm 22 carries the downwardly directed nipple 28 in which is secured, by means of a set screw 29, an end of a depending rod 30 which has secured across the lower end. thereof the foot rest bar 31.

Fixed in the top end of the standard above the sleeve 14 is a clamp head 32 which is in the form of a yoke having a transverse opening 33 therethrough, through which extends an end of a crank arm 34, the outer end or crank portion 35 of which is turned or directed upwardly as illustrated. The crank arm 34 is secured in the head 32 in any suitable manner as, for example, by the use of a set screw 36.

Fixed to the lower end of the vertically disposed crank is a collar 37. The end of the crank 34 above the collar extends through the pair of coupling rings 38, each of which is secured as shown to a rigid link bar 39.

The outer end of each link bar 39 is connected with the oscillatable lever 26 by a flexible yoke 40 which may be in the form of a length of rubber hose which is bent around the lever 27 and clamped to the link 39 by the clamping elements 41 in the manner illustrated in Figure By this means a firm coupling is established between the outer end of each link 39 and the power lever 26 and at the same time there are avoided any relatively moving might be caught and injure It will be readily apparent that the length of the couping links or power links 39 is such that when the rotata le unit,

approximately parallel, the rock levers 26 will both be inclined in the same direction from the vertical. if there is an occupant upon each of the seats, the occupant of the seat which has the rock lever 26 inclined away therefrom, will pull back upon the adjacent lever while the occupant of the seat which has the rock lever inclined toward it, will push forward on the lever and thus cause the arms to rotate in a horizontal plane around the supporting standard.

In order to give additional support or rigidity to the arms 20, each arm has iixed thereto adjacent to the point of connection therewith of the rock lever 26, one bolt of a turnbuckle which is generally designated 42, while the other bolt of the turnbuckle has connected thereto an end of a cable 43, the other end of the cable being secured in a loop 44 around the top end of the sleeve 14.

Below the loops 44 of the cables 43, the sleeve 14 is provided with lugs 45 or other suitable means which function to prevent the loops of the cables from slipping down on the sleeve.

While in the illustration and description of the invention only two arms 20 have been illustrated and described thereby providing for the seating of only two riders on the device, it is to be understood that the merrygo-round may be made with more arms to carry more riders, if desired.

It is also to beunderstood, as previously pointed out, that while certain dimensions have been set forth, the invention is not limited in any manner because of these dimensions as it is contemplated to make the device in any desired size to accommodate children of anywhere from three to ftcen years of age.

I claim:

In a rider propelled merry-go-round, a fixed vertical standard, a collar iixed on said tubular standard below the top end thereof, a tubular member on said standard and supported by said collar for rotary movement rela tive thereto, a pair of sleeves projecting from opposite sides of said member adjacent its lower end, elongate arms extending from said sleeves, a seat mounted on the free end of each of said arms, an eye member having a portion xed in the top end of said tubular standard, a crank having a horizontal portion adjustably secured in said eye and an upstanding arm at its free end, a collar on said upstanding arm adjacent its lower end, an upstanding lever fulcrumed at its lower end on each of the first arms immediately inward of the seat thereon for to and fro rocking motions relatively to the seat, a handle bar carried by and extending across the top end of each 10 links encircling said crank arm References Cited in the le of this. patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,494,299 Williams May 13, 1924 

